System for picking up readings of the dial wheels of a mechanical counter



June 20, 1961 R. 'D. ADAMS SYSTEM FOR PICKING UP READINGS OF THE DIAL WHEELS OF A MECHANICAL COUNTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 25, 1957 FIG. 2

C a w 3 INVENTOR.

ROY D. ADAMS BY CORBETT, MAHONEY,M|LLER & RAMBO, ATTY'S.

June 20, 1961 R. D. ADAMS SYSTEM FOR PICKING u READINGS OF THE DIAL WHEELS OF A MECHANICAL COUNTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed D60. 23, 1957 FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

ROY D. ADAMS BY CORBETT, MAHONEY, MILLER a RAMBO, ATTYS.

United States Patent 2,989,230 SYSTEM FOR PICKING UP READINGS OF THE DIAL WHEELS OF A MECHANICAL COUNTER Roy D. Adams, 696 Vernon Road, Columbus, Ohio Filed Dec. 23, 1957, Ser. No. 704,771 Claims. (Cl. 235-1) My invention relates to a system for picking up readings of the dial wheels of a mechanical counter. It has to do, more particularly, with a system for mechanically picking up the readings'of the dial wheels of a mechanical counter or register so that they can be used to control electric circuits to a recording, display, or printing device.

As is well known, mechanical counters are used for many purposes and include dial wheels which are rotated to register the count. In many cases, although the figures can be read from the dial wheels, it would be desirable to have them displayed in another way or to operate recording or printing equipment. For example, it is common to use such mechanical counters on coin counting machines, such machines being used for counting the coins received from the coin boxes of pay telephones or the like. Obviously, it would be desirable to have means on such coin counting machines to pick up the count and actuate a recorder or printer.

It is, therefore, one object of my invention to provide a simple and inexpensive system for mechanically picking up the count from the dial wheels of a mechanical counter and for actuating a circuit or circuits to a recorder, printer or display device.

Another object of my invention is to provide a system of the type indicated which can be applied to mechanical counters of the type now commonly in use.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a system of the type indicated which ordinarily will be inoperative and will not interfere with the normal action of the counter but which can be set easily and quickly to pick up the count from the counter.

Various other objects will be apparent.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention but it is to be understood that details thereof may be varied without departing from the principles of my invention.

In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation at one face of an assembly without its casing showing the system applied to a mechanical counter.

FIGURE 2 is a similar view in elevation from the opposite face of the assembly of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a detail in side elevation showing one mechanical pick-up and switch unit of the system with the unit being in operative position to pick up the count from one of the dial wheels of the counter.

FIGURE 4 is a similar View but showing the pick-up unit set in inoperative position to permit normal operation of the counter.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 2.

With reference to the drawings, I have illustrated only the necessary parts of a mechanical counter to demonstrate how the system of this invention is applicable thereto. I have shown in FIGURE 1 the input driven shaft 20 which is carried by the counter frame 21 of substantially U-form. The input shaft 20 is rotatably mounted on the frame 21 and may be driven by means of a bevel gear 22 disposed outside the frame and which will be geared to the rotatable part of a machine the revolutions of which are to be counted. The input shaft 20 drives the counting mechanism which is of the usual form and which includes the support shaft 23 which ordinarily carries the dial wheels that indicate the final output count, that is, the total number of rotations received by the input shaft 20. The shaft 23 can be operated by a knob 24 to re-set the counting mechanism to zero condition. Instead of dial wheels on the shaft 23, from which the output count can be read, I substitute therefor the ring gears 30 which will correspond in number with the dial wheels which they replace.

The parts so far described, with the exception of the ring gears 30 which are substituted for the output wheels, are the usual parts provided on a mechanical counter. The other parts shown in the drawings are provided in accordance with my invention and the entire assembly is carried by a mounting frame 31 which receives the counter frame 21 at one end thereof and is suitably secured thereto. The frame 31 will carry a series of pickup and switch devices 32 disposed side-by-side, as indicated in FIGURES 1 and 2. These devices 32 will correspond in number with the ring gears 30.

The gears 30 mesh with gears 33 which are of corresponding size and which are rotatably carried by a transverse shaft 34 that is mounted on the frame 31 parallel with the shaft 23, as shown best in FIGURE 2. Associated with each gear 33 and fixed for rotation therewith is a stepped cam 35. The form of each of these cams 35 is indicated in FIGURES 3 and 4, and it will be noted that each cam is provided with successive steps which are numbered 0 to 9, inclusive, which are spaced angularly around the axis of the cam and are positioned gradually increasing radial distances from said axis. FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate one of the units 32 diagrammatically and it is to be understood that all such units are the same.

Associated with each cam 35 and extending substantially tangentially thereof is the reader finger 36 which will engage the cam when reading is to take place, as shown in FIGURE 3. Each finger 36 is carried by a contact lever 38 adjacent its pivoted end and the lever is pivoted on a shaft or pin 37 extending transversely of the frame between the shafts 23 and 34, and being parallel therewith. Each lever 38 includes the inner pivoted main section and an outer contact finger section 38a which is connected to the section 38 by electric insulating connecting bars 38b. The extreme outer end of each contact finger section 38a is provided with a contact pin-engaging V-notch 40. Each lever 38 is connected by a spring 39 to a transverse pin 31a carried by the frame 31. This spring tends to swing the lever 38 counterclockwise (FIGURE 3) about the pivot pin 37 to cause the reader finger 36 to engage the peripheral edge of the associated cam 35.

Each contact finger section 38a of the lever 38 has its extreme outer end positioned between a contact pin carrier lever unit 41 comprising a pair of insulating plates or bars 42 which are spaced apart by spacers 43 (FIGURE 1) at each end to permit free swinging of the outer end of the finger section 38a therebetween. Each of these units 41 is pivoted at one end on a transverse pin 44 carried by the frame 31. Mounted between the insulating plates 42 of each unit 41 and extending normal to the surfaces thereof are a plurality of contact pins 45 arranged in an arcuate pattern and adapted to be selectively engaged by the notch 40 of the contact finger section. The pins 45 are numbered 0 to 9 and are arranged in an arcuate path corresponding to the swing of the notched end 40 of the lever 38 about the pin 37 when the units are in the operative position shown in FIGURE 3.

The contact pins 45 are connected respectively by wires 45a to a set of contact terminals 45b numbered 0 to 9. The contact fingers 38a of the levers 38 are connected respectively by wires 38d to another set of contact terminals 38:: similarly numbered. These sets of terminals will be properly connected in the respective circuits which they are to control. Contact of the notch 40 with its associated contact pin 45 will result in closing the particular circuit in which these elements are connected.

Associated with all the units 41 which are mounted for rocking movement about the pin 44 is a bail 46 which is of U-form and which is mounted for rocking move ment on the same pin 44 which carries the units 41. This bail 46 is provided with a bridge portion 49 which extends across the outer ends of the units 41 adjacent thereto.

A tension spring 50 is connected to the outer end of each unit 41 and to an inwardly extending stop flange 51 on the bridge portion 49 to normally pull the unit 41 into contact with the stop flange 51. A tension spring 52 is connected to the bail 46 at each side and is anchored to the frame 31 at 31b. These springs 52 will tend to swing the bail 46, with the group of units 41, counterclockwise (FIGURES 3 and 4) about the pin 44.

For moving the bail 46, with all the contact pin units 41 mounted thereon, and all the contact levers 38, from the operative or reading condition shown in FIGURE 3 to the inoperative or non-reading condition shown in FIGURE 4, I provide a cam-controlled restoring linkage. This linkage comprises a pair of links, 55, one of which is disposed just within each side of the frame 31, and each of which is pivoted to the adjacent side arm 56 of the bail 46 at the pivot point 57. The inner ends of the pair of spaced links 55 are pivoted at 58 to cooperating adjacent links 59 which are pivoted for swinging movement about the same pin 37 on which the levers 38 are pivoted. The links 59 are joined by a transverse pin 60 so that all the links will swing together and a tension spring 61 is connected to this pin and to the flange 51 of the bail bridge 49. This spring will tend to swing the links 55 and 59 out of alignment pivoting them selectively at the pivot 58 and swing the bail 46 counterclockwise.

One of the links 55 is provided with an extension 55a beyond its pivot point 57 and carries a cam follower roller 62 adjacent its outer end. This roller 62 engages at all times the edge of a cam 63. This cam 63 is keyed on a transverse shaft 64 which is rotatably carried by the frame 31. This shaft may be rotated by a crank applied to its projecting end 65 or in any other suitable manner.

When the counter is operating in the normal way, the

cam 63 will be rotated to a position where the outer end .of the link extension 55a is swung about the pivot axis 57 to position the links 55 in a straight-line relationship with the links 59 which will be swung about the axis of the pin 37, as shown in FIGURE 4. This will cause the transverse pin 60 carried by the links 59 to engage all the levers 38 and swing them clockwise about the pin 37, thereby disengaging the counter fingers 36 from the associated earns 35 and permitting the counter mechanism to count Without interference from the pick-up device. Also, when the levers 38 are swung clockwise, the

notched ends 40 of the contact finger sections 38a are swung clockwise and the bail 46, with all the units 41 engaged thereby, is swung counterclockwise and thus completely separating the contact notched ends 40 from the contact pins 45.

When it is desired that the system take the count from the mechanical counter, the cam 63 is rotated toallow the various springs to move the various units automatically into pick-up condition, as shown in FIGURE 3, it being understood that when the links 55 and 59 are .moved into off-center relationship they will move to the position shown in FIGURE 3. In this condition, each pick-up finger 36 will engage its associated cam 35. It will engage only the one step which indicates the rotative position to which the associated gear 33 has been moved by the counting mechanism. Assuming the finger 36 engages cam stop 1, as shown in FIGURE 3, the lever 38 will be located at such a position about the axis of the 4 pin 37 that the notched end 40 thereof will engage the contact pin 1 of its associated unit 41 as the unit 41 swings into reading position. Each unit 41 is resiliently pulled toward the end 40 by its associated spring 50 to ensure proper engagement of the notched end 40 with the proper contact pin 44.

It will be apparent from the above description that I have provided a simple and inexpensive system whereby the output count of a mechanical counter can be picked up mechanically to control electric circuits connected to a recorder, printer or display device. The system can be applied to the usual mechanical counter in such a manner that it will not interfere with the normal counting operation thereof. However, it can be set quickly into operative position to pick up the count.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, the principles of this invention have been explained and have been illustrated and described in what is now considered to represent the best embodiment. However, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with a rotatable output member of a mechanical counter, means for picking up the count from such member as determined by the rotative position of said member, said means comprising a cam provided with steps around its periphery which are disposed at progressively varying radial distances from the axis of rotation thereof, said cam being fixed for rotation with a gear driven by said output member and being of the same diameter as said output member, a pivoted lever mounted adjacent said cam and having a reader finger for engage ment with the stepped cam edge, said lever being pivoted at a point spaced from the axis of said member and said finger being spaced from the lever pivot, yieldable means for holding the lever with its reader finger in yielding contact with the cam edge, said lever having a contact finger at its outer end, a series of spaced contact pins disposed in an are adjacent the path of movement of said contact finger and with which said finger will selectively contact in accordance with the rotative position of said cam, said contact finger being provided with a contact notch at its outer end for selectively engaging said contact pins, said pins being carried by a pivoted support, yieldable means tending to swing said support toward the end of said contact finger, and means for moving said lever into inoperative position to move the reader finger away from the cam edge, said means comprising a rotatable cam and a linkage actuated by said cam, said linkage being operatively connected to said lever to operate said lever to move it into inoperative position and being connected to said contact pin support to swing it away from the end of said contact finger.

2. In combination with a series of rotatable output members of a mechanical counter, a series of pick-up units for picking up thecount from each of such members as determined by the individual rotative positions of said members, each of said pick-up units comprising a cam driven by the respective member with which it is associated and having a stepped peripheral edge with steps around its periphery which are disposed at progressively varying radial distances from the axis of rotation thereof, a pivoted lever mounted adjacent said cam and having a reader finger for engagement with said stepped cam edge, said lever being pivoted at a point spaced from the axis of the rotatable member with which it is associated and said finger being spaced from the pivot, said lever having a contact finger at its outer end, a contact pin carrier .disposed in cooperative relationship with the outer end of the contact finger of each of said levers, said carrier having spaced contact pins disposed in an are adjacent the path of movement of said contact finger and with which said finger will selectively contact in accordance with the IOtative position .of said cam, yieldab'le means for normalty holding each of the reader fingers in contact with its associated cam and each of said pin carriers in cooperative relationship with the contact fingers of the lever associated therewith, all of the contact pin carriers being carried by a single support mounted for rocking movement toward the contact ends of said levers, each carrier being mounted for rocking movement relative to the sup port about the same axis on which the support is mounted, resilient means between each carrier and the support for permitting yielding movement of each carrier relative to the support away from the contact end of the lever, said yieldable holding means including resilient means for moving the entire support toward the ends of said lever, and linkage for moving all of said levers simultaneously about their pivot axis to move the reader fingers away from the associated stepped cams and for simultaneously rocking said support away from the ends of said levers, and means for actuating said linkage.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which said actuating means comprises a rotatable cam engaging a follower carried by said linkage.

4. In combination with a rotatable output member of a mechanical counter, means for picking up the count from such member as determined by the rotative position of said member, said means comprising a cam provided with steps around its periphery which are disposed at progressively varying radial distances from the axis of rotation thereof, said cam being fixed for rotation with a gear driven by said output member, a pivoted lever mounted adjacent said cam and having a reader portion for engagement with the stepped cam edge spaced from the lever pivot, yieldable means for holding the lever with its reader portion in yielding contact with the cam edge, said lever having a contact finger at its outer end, a series of spaced contact members disposed in an are adjacent the path of movement of said contact finger and with which said finger will selectively contact in accordance with the rotative position of said cam, said contact finger being provided with a contact portion at its outer end for selectively interfitting with said contact members, said contact members being carried by a pivoted support, yieldable means tending to swing said support toward the end of said contact finger, and means operatively connected between said pivoted support and said pivoted contact lever selectively operable to move said lever into inoperative position to move the reader portion away from the cam edge and to swing said pivoted support away from said contact finger, said means being also selectively operable -to move said lever into operative position where the reader portion thereof engages said cam edge and then to swing said pivoted support toward said contact finger to cause one of the contacts carried by said support to interlock with said finger.

5. In combination with a rotatable output member of a mechanical counter, means for picking up the count from such member as determined by the rotative position of said member, said means comprising a stepped cam rotated in accordance with the position of said member, a contact finger movably mounted adjacent said cam and having a reader portion for engagement with the stepped cam so that its position will be determined thereby, a series of spaced contact members disposed adjacent the path of movement of said contact finger and with which said finger will selectively contact in accordance with the rotative position of said cam, said contact member being carried by a movable support, yieldable means tending to move said support toward said contact finger, and means selectively operable to move said contact finger into non-reading position where the reader portion is spaced from the stepped cam and to move said contact support away from said contact finger, said means being also selectively operable to move said contact finger into reading position where the reading portion thereof engages the stepped cam and then to move said movable support toward said contact finger to cause one of the contacts carried by said support to engage with said finger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,822,594 Lake Sept. 8, 1931 2,285,353 Peirce June 2, 1942 2,550,133 Allan Apr. 24, 1951 2,812,182 Fiorino Nov. 5, 1957 2,935,249 Roth May 3, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 320,973 Switzerland May 31, 1957 

